We've put together a list of words, abbreviations, acronyms and descriptions that will help describe many of the terms on this site, as well as offering a wealth of information on a wide range of related subjects.

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The total resistance offered by a device in an alternating current circuit due to inductive and capacitive effects, as well as the direct current resistance.

Abrasion Resistance

Ability of a wire, cable or material to resist surface wear.

Accelerated Aging

Tests where voltage, temperature, etc., are increased above normal operating conditions to obtain observable deterioration in a relatively short period of time. The plotted results give expected service life under normal conditions.

Active Current

In an alternating current, a component in phase with the voltage; the working component as distinguished from the idle or watt less component.

Active Pressure

In an A.C. circuit the pressure that products a current as distinguished from the voltage impressed upon the circuit.

Adhesion

The state in which interfacial forces that may be chemical or mechanical in nature hold tow surfaces together.

Aerial Cable

A cable suspended in the air on poles or other overhead structure.

Aging

The irreversible change in properties or appearance of a material with time and under specific conditions (usually accelerated representations of environmental states, such as high temperature, oxygen or other various conditions or media).

Air Gap

The minimum gap of air between two conducting surfaces permissible at given voltages.

Alloy

A metal formed by combining two or more different metals to obtain desirable properties.

Alternating Current (AC)

Electric current that continually reverses its direction. It is expressed in cycles per second.

Ambient Temperature

The temperature of a medium surrounding an object.

American Wire Gauge (AWG)

A standard system for designating wire diameter. Primarily used in the United States.

Amp or Ampere

The unit of current. One ampere is the current flowing through one ohm of resistance at one volt potential.

Ampactiy

The maximum current an insulated wire or cable can safely carry without exceeding either the insulation or jacket material limitations.

Ampere

The unit of current. One ampere is the current flowing throughout one ohm of resistance at one volt potential.

Analog

Representation of data by continuously variable quantities.

Anneal

The relief of mechanical stress through heat and gradual cooling. Annealing copper renders it less brittle.

ANSI

Abbreviation for American National Standards Institute.

Anti-Oxidant

A substance which prevents or slows down oxidation of material exposed to heat.

Area of conductor

The size of a conductor cross-section measured in circular mils, spare inches, etc.

Armor

A wrapping of metal, usually steel or aluminum, used for mechanical protection. Placed over the jacket sheath.

Armored Cable

A cable having a metallic covering for protection against mechanical damage.

ASA

Abbreviation for American Standards Association. Former name of ANSI.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

ASME

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Aspect Ratio

The ratio of length to diameter of yarn filament or yarn bundle.

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials.

ATest

This is a test

Attenuation

Power loss in an electrical system. In cables, generally expressed in dB per unit length, usually 1,000 ft.

Audio Frequency

Those frequencies audible to the human ear, generally considered to be in the range of 32 to 16,000 hertz (Hz).

AWG

Abbreviation for American Wire Gauge. The standard system used for designating wire diameter. The lower the AWG number, the larger the diameter.

AWM

UL or CSA designation for Appliance Wiring Material.

Axis of Braiding

The average direction of all yarns in a braided fabric.

B

Band Marking

A continuous circumferential band applied to a conductor at regular intervals for identification.

Bandwidth

The difference between the upper and lower limits of a given band of frequencies. Expressed in hertz (Hz).

Bare Conductor

An electrical conductor with no coating or cladding on the copper.

Bend Radius

The radius of curvature that a wire or cable can bend without causing any damaging effects.

Binder

A spirally served tape or thread used for holding assembled cable components in place awaiting subsequent manufacturing operations.

Bit

One binary digit.

Bit Error Rate (EBR)

Discrepancy between outgoing and incoming bits transmitted between date equipment.

Bobbin

A cylinder or slightly tapered barrel, with or without flanges, for holding slubbings, rovings, or yarns.

Bond

The attachment at an interface between an adhesive and an adherent or between materials attached together by adhesive.

Bond Strength

Amount of adhesion between surfaces, e.g. in cemented ribbon cable.

Braid

A fibrous or metallic group of filaments interwoven in cylindrical form to form a covering over one or more wires.

Braid Angle

The smaller of the two angles formed by the shielding strand and the axis of the cable being shielded.

Braid Carrier

A spool or bobbin on a braider which holds one group of strands or filaments consisting of a specific number of ends. The carrier revolves during braiding operations.

Braid Ends

The number or strands used to make up one carrier. The strands are wound side by side on the carrier bobbin and lie parallel in the finished braid.

Braid, Biaxial

Braided fabric with two-yarn systems, 1 running in the 0 direction, the other in the -0 direction.

Braid, Diamond

Braided fabric with an over one, under one weave pattern, (1 x 1).

Braid, Elastic

Any variety of braids incorporating in the longitudinal direction elastic materials either in the axial positions or as a core.

Braid, Fancy

A collective term applied to a great many braids which cannot be classified in a more specific manner, including ric-rac, gimp, looped braids, etc.

Braid, Flat

A narrow bias woven tape wherein each yarn is continuous and is intertwined with every other yarn in the system without being intertwined with itself.

Braid, Hercules

A braided fabric with an over three, under three weave pattern, (3 x 3).

Braid, Jacquard

A braided design made with the aid of a jacquard machine, which is a shedding mechanism by means of which a large number of ends may be controlled independently and complicated patterns produced.

Braid, Regular

A braided fabric with an over two, under two weave pattern, (2 x 2).

Braid, Square

A variation on tubular braid wherein the yarns are pushed into a square formation.

Braid, Three-Dimensional

Braided fabric with no less than three braiding yarns in the through thickness direction.

Braid, Triaxial

A braided fabric with laid in yarns running in the longitudinal direction.

Braid, Two-Dimensional

Braided fabric with two braiding yarns in the through thickness direction.

Breakdown of Insulation

Failure of an insulation resulting in a flow of current through the insulation. It may be caused by the application of too high voltage or by defects or decay.

Breakdown Voltage

The voltage at which the insulation between the two conductors breaks down.

Breakout

The point at which a conductor or group of conductors break out from a multi-conductor cable to complete circuits at various points along the main cable.

Building Wire

Wire used for light and power, 600 volts or less, usually not exposed to an outdoor environment.

Bunch Stranding

A group of wires of the same diameter twisted together without a predetermined pattern.

Byte

A group of eight binary digits.

C

C-Track

A cable guide mechanism manufactured of either plastic or metal used in continuous flexing applications.

C.S.A.

Abbreviation for Canadian Standards Association. A not-for-profit membership based association that serves business, industry, government, and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace.

Cable

A group of individually insulated conductors in twisted or parallel configuration with or without an overall covering.

Cable Assembly

A length of fiber optic cable with connectors on one or both ends.

Cable Buffer

The protective material used to coat the next layer up from the fiber coating. This is usually 900 um. Also referred to as buffered fiber. This layer is applied by the cable manufacturer.

Cable Filler

The material used in multiple conductor cables to occupy the spaces formed by the assembly or components, thus forming a core of the desired shape (normally cylindrical).

Cabling

The twisting together of tow or more insulated conductors to form a cable.

Cabling Factor

Used in the formula for calculating the diameter of an unshielded, unjacketed cable, D=Kd, where D is the cable diameter, K is the factor and d is the diameter of one insulated conductor.

CAD/CAM

Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Manufacturing.

Campus Backbone

Wiring between buildings that share telecommunications facilities.

Canadian Standards Association

A non-profit, independent organization which operates a certification service for electrical and electronic materials and equipment.

Capacitance

Storage of electrically separated charges between two plates having different potentials. The value depends largely on the surface area of the plates and the distance between them.

Capacitance, Direct

The capacitance measured directly from conductor to conductor through a single insulating layer.

Capacitance, Mutual

The capacitance between two conductors with all other conductors including shield, short-circuited to ground.

Capstan

A friction type take-up device which moves braided fabric away from the fell.

Carrier

A mechanism for carrying a package of yarn through the braid weaving motion. A typical carrier consists of a bobbin spindle, a track follower, and a tensioning device.

Caterpillar Take-Up Mechanism

A friction type take-up device which involves two reciprocating belts between which a braided structure is pulled. The device moves braided fabric away from the fell.

A certificate which is normally generated by the Quality Control Department, which shows that the product being shipped meets customer's specifications.

Certified Impedance

The impedance that, when connected to the output terminals of a transmission line of any length, makes the line appear infinitely long. The ratio of voltage to current at every point along a transmission line on which there are no standing waves.

Characteristic Impedance

The impedance that, when connected, to the output terminals of a transmission line of any length, makes the line appear infinitely long. The ratio of voltage to current at every point along a transmission line on which there are no standing waves.

Circuit

The complete path through which a current flows or part of the complete path, such as one conductor.

Circular Mil

The area of a circle one mil (.001") in diameter; 7.845 x 10-7 sq. in. Used in expressing wire cross sectional area.

CL2

Cables intended for general purpose use within buildings in accordance with the National Electric Code Section 725-53 (e).

Cladding

The material surrounding the core of the fiber. This material provides optical insulation and holds (confines) the modes in the fiber.

Cleaver

A device used to cleanly break the fiber prior to installing the connector.

CM

Cables intended for general purpose communications use within buildings in accordance with the National Electric Code Section 800-53 (c).

Coating

A material applied to the surface of a conductor to prevent environmental deterioration and helps to facilitate soldering.

Coaxial Cable

A cable consisting of two cylindrical conductors with a common axis, separated by a dielectric.

Cold flow

Permanent deformation of the insulation due to mechanical force or pressure (not due to heat softening).

Cold Test

Any test to determine the performance of cables during or after subjection to a specified low temperature for a specified time.

Color Code

A system for circuit identification trough use of solid colors and contrasting tracers.

Common Axis Cabling

In multiple cable constructions, a twisting of all conductors about a "common axis" with two conductor groups then selected as pairs. This practice yields smaller diameter constructions than does a separate axis construction, but tends to yield greater

Composite Cable

A cable consisting of two or more different types or sizes of wires.

Compound

An insulating or jacketing material made by mixing two or more ingredients.

Concentric Stranding

A central wire surrounded by one or more layers of helically wound strands in a fixed round geometric arrangement.

Concentricity

In a wire or cable, the measurement of the location of the center of the conductor with respect to the geometric center of the surrounding insulation.

Conductance

The ability of a conductor to carry an electrical charge. The ratio of the current flow to the potential difference causing the flow. The reciprocal of resistance.

Conductivity

The capability of a material to carry electrical current- usually expressed as a percentage of copper conductivity (copper being 100%).

Conductor

An uninsulated wire or combination of wires suitable for carrying electrical current.

Conduit

A tube or trough in which insulated wires and cables are passed.

Connector

Devices used to physically and electrically connect tow or more conductors. Connectors are a generic device for providing an electrical interface between electrical equipment and/or a power source. Our connectors may not be mated or unmated under load

Connectors (Fiber Optical)

A device used on the end of a fiber optic cable that allows attachment/ interconnection to a transmitter, receiver or another fiber optic cable. Examples of most popular types are ST, SC SMA, FDDI and Biconic styles.

Contact

The part of a connector, which actually carries the electrical current, and are, touched together or separat4d to control the flow.

Continuity Check

A test to determine whether electricity current flows continuously throughout the length of a single wire or individual wires. In a cable.

Diameter of a shrink tubing as supplied. When heated, the tubing will shrink to its extruded diameter.

External Interference

The effects of electrical waves or fields which cause spurious signals other than the desired intelligence, e.g. noise.

Extrusion

The process of continuously forcing both a plastic or elastomer and a conductor core through a die, thereby applying a continuous coating of insulation or jacket to the conductor or core.

F

Farad

Unit of capacitance whereby a charge of one coulomb produces a one-volt potential difference.

Fatigue Resistance

Resistance to metal crystallization, which leads to conductors breaking from flexing.

FDDI

Stands for Fiber Data Distributed Interface.

Fell

The point of braid formation, which is defined as the point at which the yarns in a braid system cease movement relative to each other.

FEP

Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene is a "Teflon" fluorocarbon resin and is a registered T.M. of the Dupont Company. This is a melt extrudable fluorocarbon resin.

Fiber

A unit of matter, either natural or man-made, which forms the basic element of fabrics and other textile structures. A fiber is characterized by having a length at least 100 times its diameter or width.

Fiber Coating

The protective layer of material above the fiber cladding. Usually 250 um diameter, however, it can be 500 um or 900 um. This layer is applied by the fiber manufacturer.

Fiber Optics

Light transmission through optical fibers for communication, including voice, video and data.

Fill (Filling)

In a woven fabric, the yarn running from selvage to selvage at right angles to the warp.

Filler

(1) A material used in multiconductor cables to occupy large interstices formed by the assembled conductors. (2) An inert substance added to a compound to improve properties or decrease cost.

Flame Resistance

The ability of a material not to propagate flame once the flame source is removed.

Flame Resistance

The ability of a material to extinguish flame once the heat source is removed.

Flame retrace

Ability of a material to prevent the spread of combustion by a low rate of travel so the flame will not be conveyed.

Flammability

The measure of the material's ability to support combustion.

Flammability Test

A test to determine the ability of a cable to resist ignition when placed near a source of heat and to self-extinguish when removed from the heat source.

Flat Cable

A cable with two smooth or corrugated but essentially flat surfaces.

Flex Life

The measurement of the ability of a conductor or cable to withstand repeated bending.

Flexibility

That quality of a cable or cable component which allows for bending under the influence of outside force, as opposed to limpness which is bending due to the cable's own weight.

Flexible

The quality of a cable or cable component which allows for bending under the influence of an outside force, as opposed to limpness which is bending due to the cable's own weight.

Foamed Plastics

Insulations having a cellular structure.

Former Plate

A die attached to a braiding machine which helps to locate the fell.

Frequency

Number of times that an alternating current reverses itself in one second. Expressed in Hertz (Hz), which is one cycle per second.

FT4

Flammability rating established by Canadian Standards Association for a vertical flame test of cables in cable trays.

FT6

Flammability rating established by Canadian Standards Association for horizontal flame and smoking testing of cables.

FTI

Flammability rating established by Canadian Standards Association for a vertical flame test of wire and cable.

G

Gauge

A term used to denote the physical size of a wire.

Gigahertz (Ghz)

A unit of frequency equal to one billion hertz.

GPIB

Abbreviation for General Purpose Interface Bus Assembly typically used for interconnecting measurement devices.

Ground

A conducting connection between an electrical circuit and the earth or the large conducting body to serve as an earth thus completing the electrical circuit.

H

Hackle

Multiple surface defects on the end of a fiber. Increases connector loss possibly to the point of not transmitting light.

Halogen

Any of the five elements

Harness

An arrangement of wires and cables, usually with many breakouts, which have been tied together or pulled into a rubber of plastic sheath, used to interconnect electric circuits.

Hash Mark Stripe

A non-continuous helical stripe applied to a conductor for identification.

Heat Distortion

Distortion of a material due to the effects of heat.

Heat Resistance

Ability of a substance to maintain physical and chemical identity and electrical integrity under specified temperature conditions.

Heat Shock

A test to determine stability of a material by sudden exposure to a high temperature for a short period of time.

Helical Stripe

A continuous, colored, spiral stripe applied to a conductor for circuit identification.

Helix Angle

See Braid Angle.

Henry

Unit of inductance such that the induced voltage in volts is numerically equal to the rate of chance in current in amperes per second.

Hertz (Hz)

A term replacing cycles-per-second as a unit of frequency.

Hi-Pot

A test designed to determine the highest voltage that can be applied to a conductor without electrically breaking down the insulation.

Hook-up Wore

A single insulated conductor used for low-current, low voltage (usually under 600 volts) applications within enclosed electronic equipment.

Hygroscopic

Readily absorbing and retaining moisture.

Hypalon

DuPont's trade name for their chlorosulfonated polyethylene, an ozone resistant synthetic rubber.

Hz

Abbreviation for Hertz.

I

IEC

European Standardization agency; International Electrtechnical Commission.

IEEE

Abbreviation for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Impact Strength

A test for determining the mechanical punishment a cable can withstand without physical or electrical breakdown by impacting with a given weight dropped a given distance, in a controlled environment.

Impedance

The total opposition that a circuit offers to the flow of alternating current or any other varying current at a particular frequency. It is a combination of resistance R and reactance X, measured in ohms.

Index of a Refraction

The ratio of the velocity of light in free space to the velocity of light in a given material.

Inductance

The property of a circuit or circuit element that opposes a change in current flow, thus causing current changes to lag behind voltage changes. It is measured in henrys.

Insulation

A material having high resistance to the flow of electric current. Often called dielectric in radio frequency cable which is used to separate close electrical components, such as cable conductors and circuit components.

Insulation Resistance (I.R.)

That resistance offered by an insulation to an impressed dc voltage, tending to produce a leakage current through the insulation.

Insulation Thickness

The wall thickness of the applied insulation.

Interconnecting Cable

The wiring between modules, between units, or the larger portions of a system.

Interference

Electrical or electromagnetic disturbances which introduce undesirable responses into other electronic equipment.

Intersection Repeat

The term applied to the path of a yarn in a woven fabric representing a single unit of a repeating pattern.

Interstices

Voids or valleys between individual strands in a conductor or between insulated conductors in a multi-conductor cable.

IPCEA

Abbreviation for Insulated Power Cable Engineers Association.

Irradiation

In insulations, the exposure of the material to high-energy emissions for the purpose of favorably altering the molecular structure by cross-linking.

ISA

Instrument Society of America.

ISO

International Standards Organization.

J

Jacket

An outer covering, usually nonmetallic, mainly used to protect the cable core from the environment.

Jammed State

The state of a braided fabric under tension where the deformation of the fabric is dominated by the deformation properties of the yarn and not by crimp exchange.

K

KCMIL

Conductor area expressed in thousands of circular mils.

Kevlar

Registered trade mark of E.I. Dupont for the aramid fibers used for adding strength to a fiber optic cable.

Kilometer (km)

1000 meters or 3, 281 feet (0.621 miles)

Knitting

A method of constructing fabric by interlocking sees of loops of one or more yarns.

KPSI

Tensile Strength in thousands of pounds per square inch.

Kynar

Pennwalt trade name for polyvinylidene fluoride, a fluorocarbon material typically used as insulation for wire wrap wire.

L

Laid-in Yarns

A system of longitudinal yarns in a frazil braid which are inserted between the bias yarns.

Lapping Film

A film used in the connector termination process to gradually remove and/or polish a connector/fiber end. Diamond lapping film is the highest quality; others include alumna, cerium, chromium, carbide, etc.

Laser

A light source used in conjunction with an optical fiber.

Lay

The length measured along the axis of a wire or cable required for a single strand (in stranded wire) or conductor (in cable) to make one complete turn about the axis of the conductor or cable.

Lay Direction

the twist in the cable as indicated by the top strands while looking along the axis of the cable away from the observer. Described as "right hand

Leakage Current

The undesirable flow of current through or over the surface of an insulation.

Life Cycle

A test to determine the length of time before failure in a controlled, usually accelerated, environment.

Limits of Error

The maximum deviation (in degrees of or percent) of a thermocouple extension wire from standard emf-temperature to be measured.

Line Voltage

The value of the potential existing on a supply or power line.

Link

An optical cable with connectors attached to a transmitter and receiver (source and detector).

Load

A device that consumes power from a sauce and used that power to perform a function.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A baseband or broadband interactive bi-directional communication systems for voice, video or data use on a common cable medium.

Longitudinal Shield

A tape shield, flat or corrugated, applied longitudinally with the axis of the core being shielded.

Longitudinal Shrinkage

A term generally applied to shrink products denoting the discrete axial length lost through heating in order to obtain the recovered diameter.

Loop Resistance

The total resistance of two conductors measured round trip from one end.

Loose Tube Cable

A cable construction in which optical fiber(s) are loosely contained. Usually used in outdoor applications due to better performance over a broader temperature range that tight buffer constructions.

Low Loss Dielectric

An insulating material that has a relatively low dielectric loss, such as polyethylene.

Lower limit temperature

The lower limit temperature is the minimum permissible temperature at which a Heavy Duty connector can still be operated.

M

Magnetic Field

The region within which a body or current experiences magnetic forces.

Magnetic Flux

The rate of flow of magnetic energy across or through a surface (real or imaginary).

Magnetic Noise

Caused by change in current level, e.g. AC power line (creates magnetic field around that cable) this magnetic field caused the magnetic noise.

Mandrel

A male tool typically used in braiding for the formation of braids with irregular cross sections.

Mastic

A meltable coating used on the inside of some shrink products which, when heated, flows to encapsulate the interstitial air voids.

Mating cycles

Mating cycles are the number of insertion and extraction cycles a connector can withstand before electrical or mechanical failure in relationship to the connector's design specification.

MATV

Acronym for Master Antenna Television System- a combination of components providing multiple television receiver operations from one antenna or group of antennas; normally on a single building.

Maypole Braider

A braiding machine, or circular weaving machine, which manipulates a serious of yarn carriers through a path identical to that of a maypole dance.

MCM

One thousand circular mils.

Megohm

One million ohms.

Member

A group of insulated wires to be cabled with other stranded groups into multiple-element cable.

Messenger

The linear supporting member, usually a high strength steel wire, used as the supporting elements to a suspended aerial cable. The messenger may be an integral part of the cable, or exterior to it.

Meter

One meter equals 3.28 feet.

Mho

Megahertz (one million cycles per second). Formerly Mc.

Microbending

A form of increased attenuation caused by having the fiber curved around a restrictive radius of curvature, or microbends caused by minute distortions in the fiber imposed by externally induced perturbations. Excessive bend loss may result from poor d

Micron (um)

Millionth of a meter.

Microwave

A short (usually less than 30 cm.) electrical wave.

Mil

A unit used in measuring diameter of a wire or thickness of insulation over a conductor. One one-thousandth of an inch (.001").

Millimeter

One millimeter equals 0.03937 inches.

Mis-Match

A termination having a different impedance than that for which a circuit or cable is designed.

The amount of moisture, in percentage, that a material will absorb under specified conditions.

Moisture Resistance

The ability of a material to resist absorbing moisture from the air or when immersed in water.

Monomer

The basic chemical unit used in building a polymer.

MTW

An acronym for thermoplastic insulated Machine Tool Wire.

Multi-Mode Fiber

An optical waveguide which allows more than one mode to propagate. Step index and graded index fibers are multi-made.

Multiconductor

More than one conductor within a single cable construction.

Multiplexing

Simultaneous transmission of two or more messages over the same cable medium.

MUX

Multiplexer.

Mylar

Dupont trade name for a polyester material.

N

Nanometer (nm)

One billionth of a second, expressed as 10 sec.

Nanoseconds

One thousandth of one one-millionth of a second (10-9) seconds).

National Electrical Code (NEC)

A consensus standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70) and incorporated in OHSA regulations. These regulations govern construction and installation of electrical wiring and apparatus in the U.S.

NBS

Abbreviation for National Bureau of Standards.

NEMA

National Electrical Manufactures Association.

Neoprene

Trade name for polychloroprene synthetic rubber, a compound used for jacketing.

NFPA

Abbreviation for National Fire Protection Association. That association responsible as the Administrative Sponsor of the National Electrical Code. Also identified as "ANSI Standards Committee CI."

Non-Contaminating PVC

A polyvinylchloride formulation, which does not produce electrical contamination.

Nylon

A group of polyamide polymers which are used for wire and cable jacketing.

O

OFHC

Abbreviation for oxygen-free, high conductivity copper. It has no residual deoxidant, 99.95% minimum copper content and an average annealed conductivity of 101%.

Ohm

The electrical unit of resistance. The value of resistance through which a potential difference of one volt will maintain a current of one ampere.

Ohm's Law

E= 1 x R. Voltage (E) is directly proportional to the product of current (I) and resistance (r) or circuit.

Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)

An instrument designed to measure transmission characteristics of fiber by sending a pulse of light down the fiber and measuring the light scattered across the length and reflected back from the ends as a function of time.

OSHA

Abbreviation for Occupational Safety and Health Act. Specifically, the Williams-Steigler law passed in 1970 covering all factors relating to safety in places of employment.

Outgassing

Percentage of a gas released during the combustion of insulation or jacketing material.

Overall Diameter

Finished diameter over wire or cable.

Overlap

The amount the trailing edge laps over the leading edge of a tape wrap.

Oxygen Index

Percentage of oxygen necessary to support combustion of a material.

P

Pair

Two insulated wires of a single circuit associated together.

Pairing

The union of two insulated single conductors through twisting.

PAP

A commonly used term for air core (unfilled) direct burial telephone cable with a corrugated aluminum shield.

Parallel Cable

Two insulated conductors run parallel in a cable.

Parallel Wound

A term used to describe yarn or other material wound into a flanged spool.

PCB Solder Contacts

Circular contacts which mount directly to a circuit board.

PE

Physical Earth, the same as ground.

Peak Voltage

Maximum instantaneous voltage.

PET

Acronym for Polyethylene terephthalate, a thermoplastic polymer resin often used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers and food and beverage containers.

Photodetector (Receiver)

Transforms light into electricity. For relatively fast speeds and moderate sensitivity in the 0.75 um to 0.95 um area wavelength, the silicone photodiode is most commonly used.

Pick

Distance between two adjacent crossover points of braid filaments. The measurement in picks per inch indicates the degree of coverage.

Pick Count

The number of filling yarns per inch or per centimeter of a fabric.

Pigtail

A length of fiber optic cable with connectors on one end.

Pin-Diode

A device used to convert optical signals to electrical signals in a receiver.

Pistoning

The movement of a connectoried fiber axially in and out of a ferrule end, often caused by changes in temperature.

Pitch

In flat cable, the nominal distance between the index edges of two adjacent conductors.

Pitch Diameter

Diameter of a circle passing through the center of the conductors in any layer of a multi conductors cable.

Plait

Very similar to the term "pick" although applying only to bias weaving process. A plait is the crossing of two braiding yarns.

Plait Count

The number of braiding yarn crossings per inch measured along the axis of a braided fabric.

Plastic Deformation

Change in dimensions under load that is not recovered when the load is removed.

Plasticizer

A chemical agent added to plastics to make them softer and more pliable.

Plenum

The air return path of a central air handling system, either ductwork or open space over a dropped ceiling or beneath a floor.

Plenum Cable

Fire and smoke resistant cable Listed by Underwriters Laboratories for installation in plenums without the need for conduit.

Plied Yarn

A yarn formed by twisting together two or more single yarns in one operation.

Polyester

Polyethylene terephthalate that is used extensively in the production of a high strength moisture resistant tape or film used as a cable core wrap.

Polyethylene

A family of insulations derived from the polymerization of ethylene gas and characterized by outstanding electrical properties, including high I.R., low dielectric constant, and low dielectric loss across the frequency spectrum. Mechanically rugged, it

Polymer

A material of high molecular weight formed by the chemical union of monomers.

Polymer

a substance made of many repeat chemical units or molecules. The term polymer is often used in place of plastic, rubber, or elastomer.

Polyolefin

A family of thermoplastics based upon the unsaturated hydrocarbons known as olefins. When combined with butylenes or styrene polymers, they form compounds such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Polypropylene

A thermoplastic polymer of propylene.

Polyurethane

A family of flexible, abrasion resistant jackets used for XTRA-GUARD 2 harsh environment cables.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

A thermoplastic material composed of p0lymers of vinyl chloride that may be rigid or flexible, depending on specific formulation.

Polyvinylchloride

A general-purpose family of insulations whose basic constituent is polyvinylchloride or its copolymer with vinyl acetate. Plasticizers, stabilizers, pigments and fillers are added in lesser quantity to improve mechanical and/or electrical properties of

Porosity

Multiple air voids in an insulation or jacket wall.

Potting

The sealing of a cable termination or other component with a liquid which thermosets into an elastomer.

Power Factor

The ratio of resistance to impedance. The ratio of an actual power of an alternating current to apparent power. Mathematically, the cosine of the angle between the voltage applied and the current resulting.

Primary Insulation

The first layer of non-conductive material applied over a conductor, whose prime function is to act as electrical barrier (sic...insulation).

Propagation

Delay time required for an electrical wave to travel between two points on a transmission line.

Pulling Eye

A device fastened to a cable to which a hook may be attached in order to pull the cable into or from a duct.

Q

Quad

A four-conductor cable.

R

Rated Current

The related current is the current at which a connector can continuously (not intermittently) conduct through all contacts simultaneously without exceeding the upper limit temperature.

Rated Temperature

The maximum temperature at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without loss of its basic properties.

Rated Voltage

The maximum voltage at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without undue degradation or safety hazard.

REA

Abbreviation for Rural Electrification Administration. A branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for the standardization of the independent telephone companies throughout the U.S.

Reactance

The opposition offered to the flow of alternating current by inductance or capacitance of a component or circuit.

Recovered Diameter

Diameter of shrinkable products after heating has caused it to return to its extruded diameter.

Reference Junction

The junction of a thermocouple which is at a known reference temperature. Also known as the "cold" junction, it is usually located at the emf measuring device.

Refractive Index

Ratio of light velocity in a vacuum to its velocity in the transmitting medium.

Reinforcement

A material used to strengthen or give dimensional stability to another material.

Repeatability

The amount of optical power lost due to the number of matings (de-matings) a connector experiences.

Repeater

A transmitter and receiver combination used to regenerate a signal.

Resin

An organic substance of natural or synthetic origin characterized by being polymeric in structure and predominantly amorphous. Most resins, though not all, are of high molecular weight and consist of long chain or network molecular structure.

Resistance

In DC circuits, the opposition a material offers to current, measured in ohms. In AC circuits, resistance is the real component of impedance and may be higher than the value measured at DC.

Retractile Cable

A cable that returns by its own stored energy from an extended condition to its original contracted form.

Return Loss

The amount of optical power reflected back through the connector due to the different mediums the light travels through stated in dB. This phenomenon can be controlled somewhat by the type of end finish the connector has. (Flat, Physical Contact (PC),

RFI

Abbreviation for Radio Frequency Interference.

RG/U

Abbreviation for Radio Government, Universal. RG is the military designation for coaxial cable and U stands for "general utility."

Ribbon Cable

A flat cable of individually insulated conductors lying parallel along the outer surface of an insulated wire for purposes of identification.

Ringing Out

The process of locating or identifying specific conductive paths by means of passing current through selected conductors.

Rise Time

The time required for the initially zero potential existing on transmission line (which is terminated in its characteristic impedance) to change from 10% to 90% of its full DC value after a DC potential source is instantaneously applied.

Root Mean Square (RMS)

The effective value of an alternating current or voltage.

Rope Lay Conductor

A conductor composed of a central core surrounded by one or more layers or helically laid groups of wires.

Routing

The path followed by a cable or conductor.

Roving

In spun yarn production, an intermediate state sliver and yarn.

Rupture

In the breaking strength or tensile strength test the point at which the material physically separates or comes apart, as opposed to elongation, yield strength, etc.

S

SAE

Abbreviation for Society of Automotive Engineers.

Self-Extinguishing

The characteristic of a material whose flame extinguishes after the igniting flame is removed.

Self-Supporting Cable

Any cable that incorporates a steel rope or steel sheath for added tensile strength, thus enabling it to be suspended between widely spaced supports.

In cables, a metallic layer placed around a conductor or group of conductors to prevent electrostatic interference between the enclosed wires and external fields.

Shield Coverage

The physical area of a cable that is actually covered by the shielding material and is expressed in percent.

Shield Effectiveness

The relative ability of a shield to screen out undesirable signals.

Shock Test

A test to determine the ability of a cable to withstand a violent physical concussion such as might occur during handling or use.

Shrink Temperature

That temperature which effects complete recovery of a shrinkable product from the expanded state.

Shrink Tubing

Tubing which as been extruded, cross-linked, and mechanically expanded which when reheated will return to its original diameter.

Shrinkage Ratio

The ratio between the expanded diameter and recovered diameter of shrinkable products.

Signal

A current used to convey information, either in digital, analog audio or video.

Signal Cable

A cable designed to carry current of usually less than one ampere per conductor.

Simplex

Mode of data transmission in one direction only. Usually on a two-wire facility.

Single Mode Fiber

A fiber wave-guide which only one mode will propagate.

Sintering

Fusion of a spirally applied tape wrap jacket by the use of high heat to a homogenous continuum. Usually employed for fluorocarbon, non-extrudable materials.

Sizing

A generic term for compounds which are applied to yarns to bind the fiber together and stiffen the yarn to provide abrasion-resistance during weaving. Starch, gelatin, oil, wax and man-make polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, poly acryilic

Skin Effect

The phenomenon in which the depth of penetration of electric currents into a conductor decreases as the frequency increases.

Sleeving

A common name for a braided, extruded or woven tubular fabric.

Soldering Sleeves

Shrinkable tubing with a solder perform used for highest reliability soldering connections or shield grounding.

Solid Conductor

A conductor consisting of a single wire.

Source

The means (usually LED or laser) used to convert an electrical information-carrying signal into a corresponding optical signal for transmission by an optical wave-guide.

Span

In flat cables, the distance from the reference edge of the first conductor to the reference edge of the last conductor (in cables having flat conductors) or the distance between the centers of the first and last conductors (in cables having round condu

Spark Test

A test designed to located imperfections (usually pin-holes) in the insulation of a wire or cabled by application of a voltage for a very short period of time while the wire is being drawn through the electrode field.

Specific Gravity

The ratio of the density (mass per unit volume) of a material to that of water.

Spindle

A slender upright rotation rod on a spinning frame, roving frame, twister or similar machine.

Spiral Wrap

The helical wrap of a material over a core.

Splice

A mechanical device or fusion process that permanently bonds two fibers together without a connector producing extremely low loss.

Stability Factor

The difference between the percentage power factor at 80 volts/mil measured on wire immersed in water at 75% C for a specified time.

Static Condition

Used to denote the environmental conditions of an installed cable rather than the conditions existing during cable installation.

STP

Shielded Twisted Pair cable.

Strand

A single fiber, filament, or monofilament. An ordered assemblage of textile fibers having a high ratio of length to diameter and normally used as a unit.

Stranded Conductor

A conductor composed of groups of wires twisted together.

Strip Force

The force required to remove a small section of insulating material from the conductor it covers.

Suggested Working Voltage

AC voltage that can be applied between adjacent conductors.

Surface Resistively

The resistance of a material between two opposite sides of a unit square of its surface. It is usually expressed in ohms.

Surge

A temporary, large increase in voltage or current in an electric circuit or cable.

Sweep Test

A method to determine the frequency response of a cable, by generating an RF voltage whose frequency is varied at a rapid constant rate over a given range.

T

Tank Test

A voltage dielectric test in which the test sample is submerged in water and voltage is applied between the conductor and water as ground.

Tape Wrap

A spirally applied tape over an insulated or uninsulated wire.

TDM

Abbreviation for Time Division Multiplexing.

Tear Strength

The force required to initiate or continue a tear in a material under specified conditions.

Teflon

Is a registered trademark of Dupont and is used in relation to products manufactured with Dupont's fluoropolymer products.

Tefzel

Dupont trade name for a fluorocarbon material typically used as the insulation on wire wrap wire.

Temperature Rating

The maximum and minimum temperature at which an insulating material may be used in continuous operation without loss of its basic properties.

Tempest

Classified procedure which details the complex measurement of the combined reduction of all electromagnetic emissions from specified equipment.

Tensile Strength

The pull stress required to break a given specimen.

Test Voltage

The test voltage is the maximum voltage at which a connector will not be subjected to flashover under the set conditions.

Thermal Rating

The maximum and/or minimum temperature at which a material will perform its function without undue degradation.

Thermal Shock

A test to determine the ability of a material to withstand heat and cold by subjecting it to rapid and wide changes in temperature.

Thermocouple

A device consisting of two dissimilar metals in physical contact, which when heated, will develop an emf output.

Thermocouple Element

A thermocouple designed to be used as part of an assembly, but without associated parts such as the terminal block, connecting head, or protecting tube.

Thermocouple Extension Cable

A pair of wires of dissimilar alloys having such emf-temperature characteristics complimenting the thermocouple which is intended to be used, such that when properly connected allows the emf to be faithfully transmitted to the reference junction.

Thermoplastic

A material which softens when heated or reheated and becomes firm on cooling.

Thermoset

A material which hardens or sets by heat, chemical or radiation cross-linking techniques and which, once set, cannot be resoftened by heating.

Tight Tube Cable

A cable in which optical fibers(s) are tightly contained.

Tinned Copper

Tin coating added to copper to aid in soldering and inhibit corrosion.

Transmission Line

A signal-carrying circuit with controlled electrical characteristics used to transmit high frequency or narrow-pulse signals.

Transmission Loss

The decrease of loss in power during transmission of energy from one point to another. Usually expressed in decibels.

Transmitter

The electronic unit that converts an optical signal.

Tray

A cable tray system is a unit or assembly of units or sections, and associated fittings, made of non-combustible materials forming a rigid structural system used to support cables. Cable stray systems (previously termed continuous rigid cable supports)

Tray cable

A factory-assembled multiconductor or multipair control, signal or power cable specifically approved under the Nation Electrical Code for installation in trays.

Triaxial Cable

A cable construction having three coincident axes, such as conductor, first shield and second shields all insulated from one another.

Triple (Triad)

A cable consisting of three insulated single conductors twisted together.

Tubing

A tube of extruded no-supported plastic or metallic material.

Twinning

Synonymous with pairing.

Twist

The number of turns about its axis per unit of length of a yarn or other textile strand. Twist may be expressed as turns per inch (TPI), or turns per centimeter (TCPM).

Twist multiplier

The ratio of turns per inch to the square root of the cotton count.

Twist, Direction of

The direction of twist in yarns and other textile strands as indicated by the S&Z. Yarn has S twist if, when it is held vertically, the spirals around its central axis slope in the same direction as the meddle portion of the letter S, and Z twist if th

Twisted Pair

A twisted pair is composed of two small separately insulated wires twisted together without a common covering.

U

UF

Thermoplastic Underground feeder and branch circuit cable.

UHF

Abbreviation for Ultra High Frequency, 300 to 3,000MHz.

UL

Abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories, a non-profit independent organization, which operates a listing service for electrical and electronic materials and equipment.

Unbalanced Circuit

A transmission line in which voltages on the two conductors are unequal with respect to the ground; e.g. a coaxial cable.

Unilay

More than one layer of helically laid wires with the direction of lay and length of lay the same for all layers.

Upper limit temperature

The upper limit temperature is the maximum permissible temperature, at which a Heavy Duty connector can still be operated, due to the heating up of the contacts by the ambient temperature or other environmental conditions.

V

Valley

Any void between the insulated conductors of a cable or between a cable core and its covering. See also interstice.

Velocity of Propagation

The speed of an electrical signal down a length of cable compared to speed in free space expressed as a percent. It is the reciprocal of the square root of the dielectric constant of the cable insulation.

DuPont Trademark for a series of fluroelastomers based on the copolymer of unylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene.

Volt

A unit of electrical pressure. One volt is the amount of pressure that will cause one ampere of current in one ohm of resistance.

Voltage

The term most often used in place of electromotive force, potential, potential difference, or voltage drop to designate the electric pressure that exists between two points and is capable of producing a current when a closed circuit is connected between

Voltage Rating

The highest voltage that may be continuously applied to a wire in conformance with standards or specifications.

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)

The ratio of the maximum effective voltage to the min8imum effective voltage measured along the length of a mismatched radio frequency transmission line.

Volume Resistivity

The electrical resistance between opposite faces of a one-cm. cube of insulating material, commonly expressed on ohms-centimeter.

Vulcanization

An irreversible process during which a rubber or polymeric compound through a change in its chemical structure (for example, cross-linking) becomes a thermoset.

VW-1

A flammability rating established by Underwriters Laboratories for wires and cables that pass a specially designed vertical flame test, formerly designated FR-1.

W

Wall Thickness

The thickness of the applied insulation or jacket.

Warp

The set of yarn in all woven fabrics that runs lengthwise and parallel to the selvage and is interwoven with the filling.

Water Absorption

Water by percent weight absorbed by a material after a given immersion period.

Watt

A unit of electrical power. One watt is equivalent to the power represented by one ampere of current under a pressure.

Wavelength

The distance, measured in the direction of propagation, of a repetitive electrical pulse or waveform between two successive points.

Wicking

The longitudinal flow of a liquid in a wire or cable due to capillary action.

Wire

A slender rod or filament of drawn metal.

X

XLPE

Abbreviation for cross-linked polyethylene.

Y

Yield Strength

The minimum stress at which a material will start to physically deform.